Apparatus for purifying gas.



No. 709,772. Patented Sept. 23, I902. H. A. HUMPHBEY.

APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING GAS.

(Application filed May 5, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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APPARATUS FOR PUIFYING GAS.

QPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,772, datedSeptember 23, 1902.

Application filed May 5,1902. Serial No. 106,038. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT ALFRED HUM- PHREY, a citizen of England,residing at 38 Victoria street, iVestminster, in the county of London,England, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for PurifyingGases, (for which I have applied for a patent in Great Britain, datedOctober 29, 1901, No. 21,720,) of which the following is aspecification.

A method which has frequently been used for purifying gases consists inpassing them through centrifugal apparatus at the inlet of which isadmitted a water-spray. The water and gas are together thrown by thecentrifugal action against the interior surface of the casing of theapparatus, so that they are intimately mixed and the gas is more or lessefficiently purified.

By my invention I arrange two or more such centrifugal apparatusinseries, so that the gas to be purified passes through them successively,and I provide a by-pass or bypasses between the suction and delivery ofthe centrifugal apparatus, so that by adjusting suitable valves thewhole or a part of the gas may be caused to circulate more than oncethrough one or more of the centrifugal apparatus. For finally removingfrom the gas the water suspended in it I prefer to pass the gas througha cyclone, such as is used for separating dust from air. In order towash the gas systematically, I prefer to pass the water which drainsfrom the last centrifugal apparatus into the inlet of the next precedingone, and so on throughout the series, so that the cleanest water maymeet the cleanest gas and the dirtiest Water the dirtiest gas.

The accompanying drawing is an elevation of apparatus constructedaccording to my invention.

The gas to be purified is drawn through the pipe to by the suction ofthe centrifugal fan Z), into the intake of which water-spray is admitted at c. The gas then passes through pipe dinto the inletofcentrifugal fan e,where it meets a second water-spray. From this fan itpasses up pipe f and enters at a tangent the cyclone g, meeting on itsWay the waterspray admitted at 70. As the gas travels around the cycloneit deposits on the sides thereof most of its moisture and finally passesaway comparatively dry through pipe h.

The circulation of the water is as follows: Entering at 1 it passes bypipe on to the spray k and is carried by the gas into the cyclone,whence it passes by pipe t' into the inlet of fan 6. From this fan itdrains through the water seal it and pipe 0 into the fan I) at 0,finally draining into the sump p.

The provision for by-passing the gas comprises the pipes q, r, and s andthe various valves.

WVhen valves g, r, and r are closed, the gas passes from a through fanI) up pipe d into inlet of fan 6, where it meets gas passing downby-pass s. The combined gases are delivered into pipe f and tangentiallyinto cyclone g, whence part of the gas passes away at h and part returnsthrough 3 tothe fan a.

By opening valves (1' and 0" fan I) may be by passed simultaneously withfan 6, or q may be shut and r and 1' opened, so that fan 1) is by-passedthrough fan 6. If either fan has to be worked separately while the otheris cut off by means ofits valves at inlet and outlet 1) and b or c anda, respectively, then the pipe Q (shown dotted) serves to pass thedelivery of fan I) into pipe f, the valve 4* being open and 9'' closed,or to pass the gas from a direct to the suction of fan 6, the valve 7''being open and r closed.

When fan I) is alone being used, water may be passed to it directlythrough pipe 15.

To prevent the danger of a negative pressure in the main a andconsequent drawing in of air, the bypass pipe a between the suction anddelivery sides of the apparatus is provided with a valve a, the lever ofwhich is con nected with a floating gas-bell 'u, whereof theinterior isin communication by pipe o with the main (L. If the pressure in thismain falls, gas is withdrawn from the bell, which consequently sinks andopens the valve n to equalize the pressure.

It is obvious that although the apparatus herein described is expresslydesigned for bringing gas and liquid into contact. for the purpose ofpurifying the gas it is equally applicable to bringing gases and liquidsinto contact in order to effect chemical or physical reaction betweenthe gas and the liquid or even merely to cool the gas.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and thebest means Iknow of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim-- 1. Inapparatus forpurifyinggases the combination of a series of centrifugalapparatus each delivering into the next succeeding it, pipes connectingthe delivery and suction sides of the said centrifugal apparatus andvalves in the said pipes, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a series of centrifugal apparatus for purifying gaseach delivering into the next succeeding it, pipes connecting thedelivery and suction sides of the said apparatus, valves in the saidpipes and pipes connecting the drainage-suinp of each apparatus with theintake of the apparatus next preceding it, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a series of centrifugal fans for purifying gas eachdelivering into the next succeeding it, a cyclone into which the lastdelivers, pipes connecting the delivery and suction sides of the saidfans, and valves in the said pipes, substantially as described.-

. 4. In combination, a series of centrifugal fans for purifying gas eachdelivering into the next succeeding it, a cyclone into which the lastdelivers, pipes connecting the delivery and suction sides of the saidfans, valves in the said pipes,and pipes connecting the drainage-sumpofeach fan with the intake of the fan next preceding it, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

H. A. HUMPHREY.

Witnesses:

GERALD L. SMITH, EDWARD GARDNER.

